Shipping from Eu to US

[BogdanS]

Hello dear brother makers and knife enthusiasts,

I am making and shipping knives from Europe to US for more than 10 years now with zero issues up until now.

For few weeks all parcels sent (through UPS or FedEx because USPS cannot be used yet due to the new tariffs chaos) are hold by customs/FDA for all kind of reasons from 'where do i have the steel, aluminum or any other part of it' to stupid FDA checks for parcels that do not contain absolutely no edibles/drugs/medicine and all.

Do you have any suggestions how to declare the parcels (i avoid the word 'knife' because ALL officers from courier ones to cbc ones get into frenzy mode hearing it and all systems mark parcels with this word associated).

Do you know if they have a 'blacklist' so they put me on that - asking because not one parcel slides free of issues to US lately while i had no issue for more than 10 years.

Thank you very much for any suggestion thar you might have!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

 

[HSC ///]

on your commercial invoice or on a separate sheet, you should indicate where the steel is melted and poured

Google search UPS section 232 and send that information along with your shipment

you can try to see if boxtal.com is available in Romania

it's basically a third-party shipping broker and when it hits the US, it usually gets taken over by FedEx, but it depends on where the destination is in the US

 

[BogdanS]

on your commercial invoice or on a separate sheet, you should indicate where the steel is melted and poured

Google search UPS section 232 and send that information along with your shipment

you can try to see if boxtal.com is available in Romania

it's basically a third-party shipping broker and when it hits the US, it usually gets taken over by FedEx, but it depends on where the destination is in the US

This is GREAT info - thanks a ton my dear friend!

I have no commercial invoice as i am a one man show craftsman but of course ill put this on a piece of paper.

Do you have any suggestion how i could declare my folder knives best for them to be happy but still not to mention the much dreaded 'knife' word?

Thank you once again for such precious info!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

 

[HSC ///]

This is GREAT info - thanks a ton my dear friend!

I have no commercial invoice as i am a one man show craftsman but of course ill put this on a piece of paper.

Do you have any suggestion how i could declare my folder knives best for them to be happy but still not to mention the much dreaded 'knife' word?

Thank you once again for such precious info!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

I have no commercial invoice as i am a one man show craftsman

perhaps this is the root of your problems... international shipments generally have to have a commercial invoice assuming that you have declared the item is for sales... my broker requires that I send it with 5 copies. i'm also a one man craftsman but if you send an item for sale, then commercial invoice is a must.

you can easily find templates of a commercial invoice online

otherwise, you would at least need "pro forma invoice"

as far as the description, perhaps you could try saying pocket tool, but that is likely to hold the shipment and they will ask you for a more detailed description.... but you might get away with it

I don't think there's anything wrong with using the word Knife in shipping to the US.

 

[BogdanS]

Same asks my broker me (UPS) - 5 pro form invoices where i declare item as a GIFT, it's value around 20-30 usd and a description like 'bbq utensil made of metal with plastic handle' and they still harass me with every parcel
They always ask where does the steel/aluminum/titanium etc comes from - maybe this is the glitch as you said - i should also declare the seller/manufacturer. But if for example i buy the steel from Brisa of Finland but have no clue who melted it should i just 'invent' something?

Thank you very much for your time mate!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

 

[HSC ///]

Same asks my broker me (UPS) - 5 pro form invoices where i declare item as a GIFT, it's value around 20-30 usd and a description like 'bbq utensil made of metal with plastic handle' and they still harass me with every parcel
They always ask where does the steel/aluminum/titanium etc comes from - maybe this is the glitch as you said - i should also declare the seller/manufacturer. But if for example i buy the steel from Brisa of Finland but have no clue who melted it should i just 'invent' something?

Thank you very much for your time mate!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

. This is the new requirements with the recent tariffs and scrutiny over shipments

it depends on the steel... you need to contact Brisa... or certain steels are known where they are poured. for example, if you buy 14c28n, we know that it's melted and poured in Sweden.

no, I would not invent something. I would find out the correct answer because you will need to know that every time.

also, I'm the same as you, for the last 4 years I've had zero problems shipping from France to the US until just recently, which is how I found out all this information

 

[BogdanS]

. This is the new requirements with the recent tariffs and scrutiny over shipments

it depends on the steel... you need to contact Brisa... or certain steels are known where they are poured. for example, if you buy 14c28n, we know that it's melted and poured in Sweden.

no, I would not invent something. I would find out the correct answer because you will need to know that every time.

also, I'm the same as you, for the last 4 years I've had zero problems shipping from France to the US until just recently, which is how I found out all this information

If you were here i'd hug you brother (not that way) - you helped me a lot!

If you are so kind could you please give me in here or in private an example of both the materials detailed description and the commercial invoice? What carrier are you using if is not too much?

All the best my friend, God bless you,
Bogdan

 

[HSC ///]

If you were here i'd hug you brother (not that way) - you helped me a lot!

If you are so kind could you please give me in here or in private an example of both the materials detailed description and the commercial invoice? What carrier are you using if is not too much?

All the best my friend, God bless you,
Bogdan

no problem, I'm sure I'll visit Bucharest sometime, Then you can buy me a coffee.

What carrier are you using if is not too much?

again, I use boxtal.com which is a third-party broker.
on the France side I generally choose Chronopost, when the package reaches the USA, it gets taken over by another carrier, which is usually FedEx

 

[Danke42]

Use the harmonized code 8211 for a knife.

Use Word, or Excel or almost anything to build a blank invoice template. Fill in the blanks each time with the details. Along with the country of origin be reasonable with the declared value or stating it's a gift.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Have you guys read this thread?

Thread 'Shipping into the USA from the European Union: Some Basic Info on the Monster Show'

Oct 22, 2025

This thread is an offshoot from another thread and its aim is to provide some information and bring a bit of clarity to a confusing and very frustrating situation that is now International Shipping Today. As many have already read, the US government recently made a major change to US Customs regulations governing the importation of goods into the US from abroad. Previously US citizens were able to import goods worth up to $800 free from any US Customs duty. Now ALL merchandise coming into the USA - regardless of the value - is subject to US Tariffs and Duties. This is pretty much how...

• Kevin Wilkins
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Shop Talk - BladeSmith Questions and Answers

• 

 

[BogdanS]

Use the harmonized code 8211 for a knife.

Use Word, or Excel or almost anything to build a blank invoice template. Fill in the blanks each time with the details. Along with the country of origin be reasonable with the declared value or stating it's a gift.

Thanks a lot brother! As i said i highly avoid 'knife' word as our carriers (UPS, FedEx) are really scared if it and i risk bring rejected to shi - maybe something like GIFT , 'folding cutlery' for a folder knife together with steel/Titanium origin should do the trick?!
By the way do they apply tariffs to small parts of steel (like our blades) that are sent as a gift?

World is going nuts for sure and now the greatest democracy of the world is refusing it's citizens the right to supply from wherever they wish. I am not at all against taxes, we pay them too with parcels outside EU but what they are doing now is not about money but about market control

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

 

[BogdanS]

Have you guys read this thread?

Thread 'Shipping into the USA from the European Union: Some Basic Info on the Monster Show'

Oct 22, 2025

This thread is an offshoot from another thread and its aim is to provide some information and bring a bit of clarity to a confusing and very frustrating situation that is now International Shipping Today. As many have already read, the US government recently made a major change to US Customs regulations governing the importation of goods into the US from abroad. Previously US citizens were able to import goods worth up to $800 free from any US Customs duty. Now ALL merchandise coming into the USA - regardless of the value - is subject to US Tariffs and Duties. This is pretty much how...

• Kevin Wilkins
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Shop Talk - BladeSmith Questions and Answers

• 

This article is simply great - thank you very much for pointing it out dear brother!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan

 

[Lorien]

I feel your pain- as does anyone who relies on the USA's market for sale of their goods.

One thing I'd recommend is being extremely clear with descriptions, for example; camping knife with plastic handle and leather sheath etc.

Also, using wood for your handles can cause problems for importers, from what I understand, as that now makes your knife subject to increased scrutiny. There are a lot of HS codes, even with knife, where knives with wood handles are classified differently than ones without.

 

[BogdanS]

I feel your pain- as does anyone who relies on the USA's market for sale of their goods.

One thing I'd recommend is being extremely clear with descriptions, for example; camping knife with plastic handle and leather sheath etc.

Also, using wood for your handles can cause problems for importers, from what I understand, as that now makes your knife subject to increased scrutiny. There are a lot of HS codes, even with knife, where knives with wood handles are classified differently than ones without.

Thanks God i do not use wood anymore but i only do 99% folders with Titanium/carbon fiber handles.

I have nothing to hide but i need to avoid the 'knife' word as in here, UPS and FedEx tend te refuse shipping of 'weapons' (they say). All other details about steel type/origin doesn't bother me at all to share. By the way is Titanium also subject to restrictions like steel and aluminum?

I always send the parcels as GIFTS because the new tariffs are deal killers if not
I would gladly change 'job' due to too much stress shipping related (even if this is what i love to do) but unfortunately i have no other choice.

Thank you very much for your input brother!

All the best, God bless,
Bogdan